Mapping Out Your Winter Sport

December 31, 1969

by Rochelle Riservato

If you’re a part of the genus that just can’t seem to get enough of cold-weather sports, the Hudson Valley is perfectly carved out in a topographical Eden of enjoyment. From adventurous downhill skiing and snowboarding to daring descents on sleds and tubes, the Valley has it all. However, if your frigid-fun vocabulary doesn’t include the words "adventurous" or "daring," perhaps you might revere the all-invigorating sports of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Whatever your passion is for winter activities, you can easily discover where to find it on the map VISITVortex has put together. It’ll put you on a journey through the Hudson Valley’s finest locations for each.

6.Minnewaska State Park, Kerhonkson. Experience trails like Awosting and Castle Point Trail Loop, a 9.2-mile total loop with an elevation of 1,650 feet. nysparks.com/parks/127

7.Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz. Mohonk Mountain House has 35 miles of trails groomed for skiing. Lessons are available. mohonk.com

8.Mohonk Preserve, Gardiner. The Mohonk Preserve has a large network of trails for cross-country skiing through interesting cliffs, trees, and rocks. Two favorite areas are Spring Farm and the Trapps. mohonkpreserve.org

10.Alpine Endeavors, New Paltz. Instruction to ice climbers of all abilities, covering the most up-to-date techniques from basic climbing skills to top roping and leading; their guides will help you to access some of the most sought-after ice climbing classics in the Catskills. alpineendeavors.com

11.Mountain Skills, New Paltz. Experience spectacular ice climbing in the Catskill Mountains, and gain a whole new perspective on what climbing has to offer. Discover cascading waterfalls, gullies, and steep runnels frozen with awe-inspiring ice formations made just for climbing. mountainskills.biz

"Up and down a hillside / When the moon is bright / Sledding is a tiptop wintertime delight."– from "A Sledding Song" by Norman C. Schlichter

Sledding and Tubing

12.Burger Hill, Rhinebeck.It’s part of the Scenic Hudson Park system with a 550-foot hill that rises up to swag and brag panoramic vistas of the Shawangunk Ridge, Catskill and Taconic Mountains, Stissing Mountain, and the Berkshires. scenichudson.org/parks/burgerhill

13.Hudson Valley Resort & Spa, Kerhonkson. A snowmaking machine ensures more fun, more often, and a T-bar lift whisks riders right up to the top after each run. hudsonvalleyresort.com

14.Hunter Mountain, Hunter. Hunter’s snow tubing park has nine chutes, each nearly 1,000 feet long, as well as two tube tows to haul you back to the top. huntermtn.com

15.Pine Grove Ranch, Kerhonkson. Get a day pass at the ranch to enjoy tubing, ice skating, and skiing. pinegroveranch.com

17.Rocking Horse Ranch Resort, Highland. You may bring your own sleds or snow tubes, or rent for the day. rockinghorseranch.com

18.Sawkill Family Ski Center, Kingston. Sawkill Family Ski Center features a new snowmaking system and new snow tubing run. sawkillski.com

19.Staatsburgh State Historic Site, Staatsburgh. Mills Mansion sits on a 192-acre estate, offering a snow-covered, sweeping, descending hill as its back lawn and providing an incredible view of the Hudson as you jettison down on a toboggan or sled. Note: sleds with metal runners are not permitted. staatsburgh.org

20.Catskill Forest Preserve, Big Indian. Rochester Hollow Trail is a total of 5.6 miles and one of the few easier ski/snowshoe trails in the vicinity of Slide Mountain (the Catskill’s highest peak). dec.ny.gov/lands/5265.html

21.Hyde Park Trails, Hyde Park. Hyde Park Trails offers over 10 miles of trails and five informational trail-related audio podcasts online, so hikers can access trail information and history on the go. hydeparkny.us/Recreation/Trails/

7.Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz. Take in spectacular views from a variety of cross-country trails that are perfect for snowshoeing too. mohonk.com

8.Mohonk Preserve, Gardiner. The Preserve offers easy and moderate trails for snowshoe enthusiasts. There are no rentals on site, so pick up snowshoes in town. mohonkpreserve.org

22.The Ogden Mills, Ruth Livingston Mills Memorial State Park and Margaret Lewis Norrie State Parks The combined 1,000 acres of these adjoining parks are ideal for fabulous cross-country skiing and snowshoeing with a backdrop of the Hudson River. Staatsburgh; nysparks.com/parks/33/details.aspx

16.Plattekill Mountain, Roxbury. Don’t miss out on a snowshoe adventure at this family-owned winter mountain escape, where they are known for "keeping it real." plattekill.com

28.McCann Ice Arena, Poughkeepsie. McCann can be rented for private use and offers figure skating, hockey, and public sessions all year. midhudsonciviccenter.org

7.Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz. Enjoy skating, or just hang out watching the skaters in this nostalgic setting with its gorgeous wooden-beam pavilion, stone columns, and huge stone fireplace. mohonk.com/recreation/ice_skating.cfm

29.Taconic State Park, Millerton. Located along 16 miles of the Taconic Mountain Range, the Rudd Pond area is one of the two developed areas offering ice skating and spectacular views. nysparks.com/parks/141/details.aspx

1.Belleayre Mountain, Highmount. Belleayre is part of the Catskill State Park with 47 trails and 8 lifts. Check out their family friendly programming, snowboard terrain park, progression parks, and new high-speed quad. belleayre.com

14.Hunter Mountain, Hunter. Hunter Mountain has over 50 trails and 11 lifts. Three separate mountains offer a large diversity of trail terrain. Hunter has great spacious learning terrain and some amazing expert slopes with jumps and bumps for the seasoned skier. huntermtn.com

16.Plattekill Mountain, Roxbury. Best known for 38 exciting trails and a mountain that's 'keeping it real,' Plattekill offers a laid-back family atmosphere and unique vibe that somehow makes them just different. Big Mountain Terrain and Small Mountain Charm is who they are, with a 3,500 elevation and 175" average annual snowfall. plattekill.com

From daring downhill skiing and snowboarding to a dramatic descent down mammoth hills on sleds and tubes, the Valley has it all.

Zipline Adventure

14.Hunter Mountain, Hunter. Hunter Mountain is home to New York Zipline Adventure Tour’s SkyRider Tour, offering four seasons of a zipline escapade. Imagine letting gravity pull you down the mountain nearly 600 feet above the ground at 50 miles per hour while watching the winter scenery below. huntermtn.com

Disc Golf

7.Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz. Mohonk Mountain House has created a whole new mountaintop game called 19-Hole Disc Golf. It scores like golf but uses discs as balls and baskets as the holes. All you need are snowshoes—forget the clubs and balls. It’s a way to get the "golfing" competition out of your system throughout winter. A fun time for every age. mohonk.com